Abstract: An apparatus for comminuting concretions in a patient's body includes a liquid filled focusing chamber, defined by a reflector (2) with an inner wall having the form of an open revolution ellipsoid, which has its open end closed by a bellows (4,6) intended for placing against the patient's body. A spark gap (8) is disposed at the first focus (F.sub.1) of the ellipsoid reflector for generating a shock wave intended to be focused at the second focal area (F.sub.2) of the ellipsoid. The reflector wall thickness is formed such that resonance of the waves reflected on the inside and outside of the ellipsoid reflector occurs in said second focal area at a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A tracking system which measures the position and orientation of invasive devices is used to automatically control the location of the X-ray imaging system gantry and/or patient table. The position and orientation of the invasive device, such as a catheter, are measured by detection of a radiofrequency field generated by the invasive device. The invasive device has at least one transmit coil attached near its end and is driven by a low power RF source to produce a dipole electromagnetic field that can be detected by an array of receive coils distributed around a region of interest. Automatic gantry placement facilitates medical diagnostic and therapeutic X-ray procedures and in some instances can reduce the number of personnel required to perform these procedures.

Abstract: The ignition of spark gaps for the production of shockwaves in the contactless comminution of concrements, using a capacitor discharge is improved by providing at least for some time prior to the ignition proper a voltage much smaller than the breakthrough voltage for producing a small current between the electrodes that prepares a channel in the discharge gap.

Abstract: To disintegrate a calculus present within a biological body under medical examination, the following steps are employed: irradiating ultrasonic pulses to an interior region of the biological body which contains at least the calculus; receiving echo pulses reflected from the interior region of the biological body to produce reflection signals; detecting both a maximum signal level and a minimum signal level from the reflection signals received during a predetermined time period; setting a first threshold value based on both of said maximum signal level and said minimum signal level; and, focusing a shock wave onto the calculus contained in the interior region of the biological body only while signal levels of the reflection signals exceed the first threshold value.

Abstract: An extracorporeal lithotripter is provided with an ultrasound transducer on the rotational center line of the reflector and substantially at the open end of the reflector. The transducer is protected against shockwaves by a metallic housing in which it is mounted. The transducer at one end engages the housing through a resilient plastic disk, and is spaced laterally from the housing by a rubber O-ring adjacent the open end of the housing. The housing directly shields or shadows the transducer so that shockwaves are not transmitted to the transducer, which could damage the transducer and shorten its life.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the permeability of the skin or other biological membrane to a material such as a drug is disclosed. In the method, the drug is delivered in conjunction with ultrasound having a frequency of above about 10 MHz. The method may also be used in conjunction with chemical permeation enhancers and/or with iontophoresis.

Abstract: Apparatus for triggering shock waves for therapeutic purposes, and generated with the aid of spark discharge in a liquid includes a signal analyzer disposed for receiving the ECG signal from a patient, a pulse generator being connected to this analyzer for sending a trigger signal shortly after the occurrence of the R peak in the ECG signal. An electromagnetically manoeuvreable, moving auxiliary electrode (14) is disposed for motion towards or into a fixed electrode gap (8, 10) in response to the trigger signal for connecting the spark gap (4, 6) to high voltage by making the electrode gap conductive.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus disclosed by this invention has a magnet assembly including a static magnetic field coil, a gradient magnetic field coil, an excitation coil, and a detection coil. A magnetic resonance signal detected by the detection coil is subjected to image reconstructing processing to obtain an image. The excitation coil can generate an exciting radio frequency pulse magnetic field for causing magnetic resonance excitation of a plurality of regions of an object to be examined simultaneously. Such an exciting radio frequency pulse magnetic field is formed by a mixed carrier having a plurality of carriers of different center frequencies.

Abstract: An apparatus for shock wave treatment includes a shock wave transducer with a cup-shaped body and with an X-ray location finding device for finding the location of a bodily concretion or tissue to be treated. The X-ray device includes an extensible X-ray tube with telescoping tube sections which are sealed against an acoustic coupling medium filling the delay path of the transducer by a balloon arranged within the X-ray tube. The balloon is secured to the upper section of the tube and to the lower section thereof. Overpressure or underpressure is applied to the interior of the X-ray tube to adjust its length in order to optimise X-ray location finding on the one hand, and shock wave treatment on the other hand.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for selective destruction of cells including soft tissues and bones inside a living subject's body.This apparatus is characterized in that it comproses:means for generating gas bubbles in situ within the cells to be selectively destroyed, andimplosion means capable of provoking the implosion in situ of the gas bubbles, thereby destroying the cells to be destroyed which are adjacent the imploded gas bubbles.The invention makes it possible to destroy cells inside a living subject's body by a non-invasive and extracorporeal and also extremely simple and efficient way, further permitting the treatment of metastases.

Abstract: An x-ray mammography apparatus has a stereotactic biopsy unit having two holders for a biopsy needle, the holders extending parallel to the exposure plane. The free ends of the holders, in which the needle is retained, each have a releasable closure for the needle, so that the biopsy needle can be detached from the holder while remaining inserted in the breast. This permits the patient to be moved away from the mammography apparatus, for example into an operating room, with the needle remaining in place as a means for identifying the location for surgery.

Abstract: A tracking system in which radiofrequency signals emitted by an invasive device such as a catheter are detected and used to measure the position and orientation of the invasive device within a subject. Detection of the radiofrequency signals is accomplished with coils having sensitivity profiles which vary approximately linearly with position. The invasive device has a transmit coil attached near its end and is driven by a low power RF source to produce a dipole electromagnetic field that can be detected by an array of receive coils distributed around a region of interest of the subject. The position and orientation of the device as determined by the tracking system are superimposed upon independently acquired Medical Diagnostic images, thereby minimizing the diagnostic exposure times. One or more invasive devices can be simultaneously tracked.

Abstract: A single probe with thermal diffusion flow monitor (hereinafter known as "SPTDFM") that has improved reliability, smaller overall size, simpler method of sensor positioning, better compatibility and capability to monitor blood flow, pressure and other critical physiological parameters is provided. The SPTDFM is formed by the combination of a thermal diffusion flow monitor, a pressure monitor, a multiple parameter monitor and a support structure.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance image generating apparatus comprising a first radiation source capable of emitting a first radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions in selected nuclei in a sample being imaged and means for detecting free induction decay signals from said selected nuclei, characterized in that said apparatus further comprises a second radiation source capable of emitting a second radiation of a frequency selected to excite electron spin transitions coupled to the nuclear spin transitions of at least some of said selected nuclei.

Abstract: A method is provided wherein a suspension containing ferromagnetic particles is introduced into a body, and the particles are caused to move towards a tumor and are retained there by a magnetic field. The area of the tumor is exposed to an electromagnetic field to carry out hyperpyrexia of the tumor to a temperature sufficient to kill cancer cells. The contents of the tumor are removed. The condition of a patient's body is monitored during the treatment by determining activity of neutrophils and macrophages. An apparatus is also provided for carrying out the method and comprises an electromagnetic radiation source with emitters, temperature pickups, and a temperature setter connected to inputs of a comparator, a temperature control unit for controlling hyperpyrexia temperature connected to an output of the comparator and forming a signal fed to a control input of the source of radiation.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system selectively excites a plurality of predetermined first regions of an object to cause an magnetic resonance, selectively excites at least one predetermined second region intersecting the first regions to cause an magnetic resonance before the magnetic resonance is relaxed, collects a magnetic resonance signal, and acquires a magnetic resonance image of the second region based on the magnetic resonance signal.

Abstract: A device and method for dilation or recanalization of a diseased vessel by use of a balloon catheter with cutting edges to make longitudinal cuts in the vessel wall is described. The diameter of the vessel increased without the subsequent secondary cellular proliferation or restenosis in the vessel caused by conventional angioplasty methods.

Abstract: An MRI flow imaging method and apparatus wherein a width of a relevant region in a direction is set, in which fluid in a subject body flows, and a first 90.degree. radio frequency pulse is applied thereto to excite selectively a relevant region; a gradient magnetic field is applied thereto in a direction, in which it is desired to project the fluid, after an application of a first 90.degree. radio frequency pulse so that a magnetization signal in a projection direction is zero, a second radio frequency pulse is applied to a relevant region to excite the relevant region selectively, after new fluid has poured in the relevant region, an echo signal is measured by applying an encoding gradient magnetic field and a reading out gradient magnetic field in a form of a flow sensitive pulse capable of detecting an echo signal from the fluid, and an echo signal is processed to obtain a two-dimensional image of the fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bladderless inflatable cuff comprising an inner compartment defined by a film, said inner compartment being closed except for an opening through which air may enter and exit said compartment, and an outer compartment comprising a loop portion of hook and loop fabric, said outer compartment serving as a container to limit the amount of expansion of said inner compartment when said inner compartment is inflated, and a fastener mounted on said outer compartment for fastening said cuff around a human body portion when in use.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of setting multi-slice imaging conditions in computed tomographic imaging systems capable of taking a desired multi-slice imaging in a desired imaging region without scanning imaging. In the method and apparatus, an object to be imaged is illuminated along at least one projection plane and within at least one projection area corresponding to an imaging region; the projection area is changed and detected; one of the multi-slice imaging conditions including an imaging time interval, a slice thickness, and a number of slices is specified; and a remaining part of the multi-slice imaging conditions is determined in accordance with the part of the multi-slice imaging conditions specified by the specifying means and the detected projection area.